Faculty of Language Studies · Online, self-paced
English as a Second Language Course Built for Real Life in Canada
The CanScribe English as a Second Language course takes you from beginner to advanced across four levels, 80 lessons, and roughly 400 hours of guided practice, all online and all at your own pace. This ESL course is open to everyone, whatever your immigration status, wherever you live, with no entrance test and no fixed class times to work around.
Questions? Call our Kelowna, BC team at 250-448-4670
Before You Apply to the English as a Second Language Course
Most people looking for an English as a second language course are choosing between three very different things: a free government class, a private language school, and a phone app. Each one solves a different problem, and none of them works for everybody.
Free classes funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada are excellent value if you qualify, but eligibility is narrow. Private language schools give you a live teacher every day and charge accordingly. Apps are cheap and fun, and they rarely take anyone past a basic conversational level or give you anything to show an employer.
CanScribe sits in the space between them. You get a complete four-level curriculum with exams, delivered online and paced by you, for one payment of $500 CAD. There is no entrance test, no class schedule, no attendance rule, and no requirement to hold a particular immigration status. If your work shifts change every week, if you are caring for children at home, or if you are still outside Canada preparing to arrive, that flexibility is usually the deciding factor.
Read the Compare tab below before you apply. It lays out honestly where CanScribe wins and where another option may serve you better, particularly if you need daily conversation practice with a live instructor.
Why Choose the CanScribe English as a Second Language Course
This is a complete language program, not a set of practice drills. Four levels take you from your first greetings to confident, detailed conversation, and every level ends with a practice exam and a final exam so you can prove to yourself, and to anyone who asks, that you have finished it.
- Four levels: Beginner, Lower Intermediate, Upper Intermediate, and Advanced
- 20 lessons per level, plus a practice exam and a final exam
- Reading, listening, writing, and speaking practice in every lesson
- Games, pronunciation drills, and video built into the lessons
- Culture Tips on Canadian etiquette, trends, and social norms
- Everyday topics: greetings, activities, sports, hobbies, and more
- No textbook to buy, since every resource is inside the program
- Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from anywhere
- Open to any adult learner, with no immigration status requirement
- Graduates earn a tuition scholarship toward any other CanScribe program
- Backed by a Canadian-owned college based in Kelowna, BC
Study on your own schedule
There is no class time to attend and no attendance minimum to meet. Work through a lesson at 6 a.m. before a shift, or at 11 p.m. once the house is quiet. You have six months of access, and most learners spend upwards of five hours on each lesson.
Language you will actually use
Each lesson builds vocabulary, grammar, listening, speaking, conversation patterns, and reading around subjects you meet every day. The point is not to pass a quiz. It is to order, ask, explain, apply, and be understood the first time.
English as a Second Language Course Details, Tuition, and Curriculum
What You Will Learn
Every lesson works the four skills together, because that is how language is used in real life. You listen, then you read, then you write, then you say it out loud. Across 80 lessons you build the following:
- Core vocabulary for daily life, work, and community settings
- Grammar that you apply immediately rather than memorize
- Listening comprehension at natural conversational speed
- Pronunciation, rhythm, and stress patterns in spoken English
- Conversation patterns for greetings, requests, and small talk
- Reading for meaning in signs, forms, notices, and articles
- Writing clear sentences, messages, and short documents
- Question forms so you can ask for help and clarification
- Vocabulary for activities, sports, hobbies, and social plans
- Canadian etiquette, trends, and social norms through Culture Tips
- Confidence handling appointments, services, and phone calls
- Exam technique through practice exams at every level
How the program is delivered
The English as a second language course is delivered online and studied independently. You log in whenever you want, work at the pace that suits your week, and repeat any lesson as many times as you need. Access runs for six months from your start date, which is roughly 26 weeks, and there is no penalty for finishing early or for studying in short bursts.
Because this is a self-study program, there is no scheduled class and no live instructor session. That is the trade you are making for total flexibility, and it is worth being clear-eyed about it before you enrol. If you want a teacher correcting your speaking daily, look at the Compare tab and consider a live option instead.
This program does not require approval through the Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU) of British Columbia, because it is language instruction rather than career or vocational training. CanScribe's career programs are separately approved by PTIRU. If you are choosing between this course and a career program, our admissions team can explain which category each one falls into.
English as a Second Language Course Curriculum
The curriculum is organized into four levels. Each level contains 20 lessons, a practice exam, and a final exam, for a total of 80 lessons and roughly 400 hours of study. You choose the level you start at, and you can move up as soon as you are ready.
Start from the beginning with greetings, introductions, numbers, and the vocabulary of everyday routines. Twenty lessons build the sound patterns of English alongside simple sentence structures, so you can be understood in short exchanges from the first weeks. Ends with a practice exam and a final exam.
Move from single sentences into connected conversation. Twenty lessons expand your vocabulary into activities, sports, hobbies, and social plans, and introduce the past and future so you can describe what you did and what you intend to do. Ends with a practice exam and a final exam.
Handle longer listening passages, more complex reading, and writing that holds together across a paragraph. Twenty lessons focus on explaining, comparing, and giving reasons, which are the functions most often needed at work and in community settings. Ends with a practice exam and a final exam.
Refine accuracy, nuance, and register. Twenty lessons work on natural phrasing, idiom, tone, and the difference between casual and formal English, so you can adapt to the room you are in. Ends with a practice exam and a final exam.
Culture Tips throughout
Language is only half of it. Culture Tips appear across all four levels and cover Canadian etiquette, trends, and social norms: what people expect in a workplace, how invitations work, what politeness sounds like here. Learners consistently say this is the part they use first.
English as a Second Language Course Tuition
One price covers all four levels, all 80 lessons, and every exam. There are no textbooks to purchase, because all resources sit inside the program. Prices are in Canadian dollars.
Full program
What is included
- All four levels and all 80 lessons
- Practice exam and final exam at every level
- Games, pronunciation practice, and video activities
- Culture Tips on life in Canada
- Six months of access, available 24 hours a day
- All learning resources, with no textbook purchase
Pay in full with no fee, or ask admissions about an interest-free payment plan. Processing fees apply to payment plans, so for a program at this price most learners pay in full. We accept Visa, MasterCard, eTransfer, certified cheque, and money order.
- Pay in full, no fee
- Interest-free plans
- Scholarships
- 5% friends discount
Scholarships and funding
CanScribe scholarships reduce the tuition portion of your program price. Use the Scholarship Finder to see what you may qualify for before you apply. Third-party sponsorship and other funding may be available depending on your situation, and our team can walk you through the options on our financial assistance page.
Finishing this course also earns you a tuition scholarship toward any other CanScribe program, so the money you spend here comes back to you if you continue into career training. Ask your admissions representative to confirm the current amount and how it is applied.
Enrol with a friend and you each receive 5% off. Both enrolments must be arranged with admissions to qualify. Tuition figures on this page are current at the time of publication and are confirmed by your admissions representative before you pay.
Compare your options
How does this English as a second language course compare?
Four realistic ways to learn English in Canada, side by side. Free government classes and public college classes are grouped together, because they share the same eligibility rules and the same fixed schedules.
Read this first: if you qualify for free government-funded classes, take them. They cost nothing and they come with a live teacher. The catch is eligibility. Federally funded LINC classes are for permanent residents and protected persons, and Canadian citizens, visitors, temporary foreign workers, international students, and refugee claimants are generally not eligible. Tuition-free college classes in BC likewise require proof of permanent residence or citizenship. If you are outside those groups, your realistic choices are the other three columns.
Scroll sideways to see all four columns.
| CanScribe ESL CourseOpen to everyone | Free Government-Funded Classes | Private Language School, Online | Language Apps & Subscriptions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who can enrolImmigration status requirements | Any adult learner. No status requirement, no entrance test | Permanent residents and protected persons only. Citizens, visitors, workers, and international students excluded | Open to most learners, placement test usually required | Anyone with a device |
| Total costCanadian dollars, full program | $500One payment. All four levels, all exams, no textbooks | $0Tuition free. Colleges may still charge ancillary fees and textbooks | $90 to $145Per week, plus a $130 registration fee and weekly material fees | $85 to $170Approximate, per year, often listed in US dollars |
| Program lengthWhat you get for the money | 6 months of access4 levels, 80 lessons, about 400 hours | Varies widelyOften a year or more part time, by benchmark level | You buy weeks26 weeks part time is roughly $2,990 in tuition alone | Open endedNo syllabus end point and no final exam |
| Start when you wantIntakes and waitlists | Any day of the year, no waitlist | Assessment appointment first, then a seat when one opens | Most start dates are Mondays | Immediate |
| Study on your own scheduleFixed class times or not | Fully self-paced, available 24 hours a day | Set class times, often daytime | Live scheduled lessons in a set time zone | Any time |
| No attendance requirementWhat happens if life gets busy | Study in whatever pattern fits your week | Minimum monthly attendance is commonly required | Missed lessons are generally not replaced | No requirement |
| Study from outside CanadaBefore you arrive, or from abroad | Yes, anywhere with a computer and internet | You must already be in Canada and eligible | Yes, subject to time zones | Yes |
| Live teacher instructionSomeone correcting you in real time | No. This is a self-study program with email support | Yes, certified language instructors | Yes, daily live lessons | No, unless you pay a tutor separately |
| Speaking practice with peopleConversation with classmates | Pronunciation and speaking exercises, but not live conversation | Yes, in class with other learners | Yes, small live classes | Speech recognition only |
| Structured levels and syllabusA route from start to finish | 4 levels, 20 lessons each, in sequence | Yes, built on the Canadian Language Benchmarks | Yes, levelled programs | A path exists, but it plateaus at a basic level |
| Exams that prove your levelPractice and final exams | Practice exam and final exam in every level | Progress is assessed and benchmarked | Regular progress testing | No formal exam |
| Proof from a Canadian collegeSomething to show an employer | Yes, from a Canadian-owned college in Kelowna, BC | Benchmark level reports rather than a college credential | A language school certificate | Nothing recognized |
| Canadian culture contentEtiquette, norms, daily life | Culture Tips throughout all four levels | Settlement and life-in-Canada topics included | Depends on the elective you choose | Generic, not Canada specific |
| What finishing unlocksWhere you go next | A tuition scholarship toward any other CanScribe program, plus advisor support | Settlement agencies offer ongoing services | Pathway advising while you are enrolled | None |
A full four-level English program for $500 CAD, open to anyone
No entrance test, no class schedule, no immigration status requirement. Start any day and study from anywhere.
About this comparison. Columns describe categories of provider, not individual schools. Free government-funded classes cover federally funded LINC programs delivered by settlement agencies and school boards, and tuition-free English language classes at BC public colleges such as Okanagan College. Private language school figures are drawn from ILSC's published 2026 online price list in Canadian dollars, where part-time online tuition is listed at $90 to $145 per week plus a one-time $130 registration fee and weekly material fees. App and subscription figures are approximate, are commonly published in US dollars, change with promotions, and should be checked at the point of purchase. Research completed August 2026. Programs vary by provider, campus, and intake, and providers reprice regularly, so confirm current figures directly with any school you are considering. Eligibility rules for government-funded language training are set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and by individual institutions, and can change. CanScribe tuition is shown in Canadian dollars and is detailed in full on the Tuition tab.
Admission Requirements
There are no academic prerequisites for this program and no entrance examination. You do not need a high school diploma, a prior credential, or a particular immigration status. You choose the level you start at, and if you are unsure, an advisor will help you decide before you pay.
Proof of English language proficiency
Not required. This is the one CanScribe program where proof of English language proficiency is not an admission requirement, for the obvious reason that building it is the point of the course. If you are planning to move on to one of our career programs afterwards, those programs do ask for proof of English language proficiency, and this course is a common route toward it.
Technical requirements
You need reliable internet, with a minimum download speed of 15 megabits per second and a minimum upload speed of 5 megabits per second. You can test your connection at speedtest.net.
- A personal computer for the full duration of the program
- A minimum of 8 gigabytes of RAM
- A headset with microphone, or good speakers and a microphone
- Windows 10 or newer, or updated Apple software
- Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari
- A quiet space where you can speak aloud during practice
This program is not designed to work on mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets. If a computer is the barrier for you, talk to admissions before you enrol rather than after.
This program is intended for adult learners. If you are enrolling on behalf of a family member, contact admissions first so we can confirm the right fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
You have six months of access, which is about 26 weeks. Depending on your English when you enrol, expect to spend upwards of five hours on each lesson. There are 20 lessons per level and four levels, which works out to roughly 400 hours for the full program. Many learners who start at a higher level finish well inside the six months.
No. This is one of the main reasons people choose it. Federally funded newcomer language classes are generally limited to permanent residents and protected persons, which leaves citizens, visitors, temporary foreign workers, international students, and refugee claimants without a free option. This course has no immigration status requirement at all. Eligibility rules for government programs are set by the Government of Canada and can change, so check current criteria if you think you might qualify.
There are four levels: Beginner, Lower Intermediate, Upper Intermediate, and Advanced. Because tuition covers all four, you are not locked into one starting point. Most learners begin one level below where they think they belong, move quickly through the familiar material, and slow down where it gets harder. An advisor can talk it through with you before you enrol.
This is a general English program rather than a test preparation course. Stronger reading, listening, writing, and speaking will help you in any assessment, and the practice exams build useful exam habits, but the program is not built around the format of a specific test and does not guarantee a particular score or benchmark. If you need a set score by a set date, pair this course with dedicated test preparation, or choose a provider that specializes in it. The Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks publishes the national framework used to describe English proficiency in Canada.
No. The program is delivered through self-study, which is what makes it available at this price and at any hour. Support is available by email if you get stuck, and the FAQ and student orientation pages inside the program answer most questions. If daily live instruction matters more to you than flexibility, the Compare tab sets out the alternatives fairly.
No. Every resource you need sits inside the program, including the reading passages, audio, video, games, and exams. The $500 CAD price is what you pay in total.
Employers hire people they can communicate with, and being able to show proof of English study from a recognized college helps you stand out. We cannot promise a specific job, salary, or outcome, and any program that does should be treated with suspicion. What we can tell you is what the course covers and what it costs. If you want to see where CanScribe graduates work more broadly, visit our career opportunities and employment partners pages.
Refunds are handled under our published policies, which set out the timelines and the amounts that apply depending on when you withdraw. Read them in full on the CanScribe policies page, or ask your admissions representative to walk you through them before you pay.
Yes, and many people do exactly that. CanScribe's career programs in healthcare, business, information technology, and environmental sciences each have their own admission requirements, including proof of English language proficiency. Finishing this course puts you in a stronger position to meet them, and it earns you a tuition scholarship toward whichever program you choose next, so the cost of this course works in your favour if you continue. Browse the full list on our programs page, or read the admissions FAQ.
Where Stronger English Takes You
Language is rarely the goal by itself. It is the thing standing between you and something else you want. Learners typically use this course to reach one of these:
- Applying for jobs that require written and spoken English
- Moving from a role you were overqualified for into one that matches your training
- Meeting the English requirement for further college study
- Handling appointments, forms, and phone calls without needing an interpreter
- Supporting your children through school and speaking with their teachers
- Preparing before you arrive in Canada, so you land ready
If your goal is a career credential, our career services team can map out what comes after this course.
Confidence in Your Own Community
Being able to take part in your community changes far more than your resume. It shapes whether you speak up at a parent meeting, negotiate with a landlord, ask a pharmacist a follow-up question, or say yes to an invitation instead of avoiding it.
- Culture Tips explain the unwritten rules, not just the words
- Everyday topics like sports, hobbies, and social plans give you something to talk about
- Pronunciation practice builds the confidence to be heard the first time
- Self-paced study means no one is watching you make mistakes
- Repeat any lesson as many times as you like, with no cost and no judgement
Explore the rest of the Faculty of Language Studies.
Not sure yet?
Is Career Training Right For You?
If you are weighing English study against a career program, or wondering which field suits you, take our short quiz. It takes a few minutes and there is no obligation.
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Start Your English as a Second Language Course
Four levels, 80 lessons, and roughly 400 hours of practice for $500 CAD. No entrance test, no class schedule, and no immigration status requirement. Start any day of the year.
Talk to our Kelowna team: 250-448-4670